Actuating mechanism



July 29, 1969 G. E. Rowe 3,457,838

ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5y WC W? A5M G. E. ROWE ACTUATING MECHANI SM July I29, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. :5, 1966 52AM/K 1005/770/1/ r ,mnu-Ilm United States Patent 3,457,838 ACTUATING MECHANISM George E. Rowe, Wethersfield, Conn., assignor to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Aug. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 569,893 Int. Cl. Ftllb 3/106; Flj 1/10 U.s. Cl. 92-33 4 claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to mechanisms for use in moving portions of a glassware forming machine into and out of registered relation with the opening of a blank or blow mold of such a machine, and deals more particularly with a novel actuating mechanism for registering a mold associated portion of such a machine, as for example a funnel, with the top opening of a blank mold in such a machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel actuating mechanism for such a mold associated portion, which mechanism permits distinct horizontal and Vertical steps of motion for such portion to be achieved with a single fluid motor.

A more specific object of the present invention is t provide a novel `funnel actuating mechanism for a glassware forming machine wherein the funnel is moved horizontally through a predetermined arc to a position above the blank mold opening, and then vertically downwardly so as to register with the mold opening, thereby avoiding the generally helical path taken -by prior art funnels.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as dening or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through an actuating mechanism of the present invention showing a funnel at its upper and lower limits of vertical travel. The upper limit being shown in solid lines and the lower limit in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 mechanism showing the funnel at the side-to-side limits of its horizontal travel, the broken line position corresponding to the FIG. 1 position wherein the funnel is in vertically registered relation above the mold opening, and the solid line position corresponding to a stowed position of the funnel.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the distinct horizontal and vertical steps of motion achieved with an actuating mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

Prior to discussing in detail the actuating mechanism shown in the drawings, it should be noted that the mechanism to be described has a wide range of applications in glassware forming machines generally. For example, in

the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,112, a glassware forming machine is shown having two mold stations wherein a blank and a blow mold, respectively, are provided, each of which has a top opening with which a funnel or other mold associated portion is adapted to be registered. More particularly, at the blank, or parison mold side of the machine, two actuating mechanisms are provided for moving the funnel and a bale through generally helical paths onto the top of a blank mold. On the so-called blow mold side of such a glassware forming machine, an actuating mechanism is shown `for moving a blowhead through a generally helical path onto the top of a blow mold. It should be noted that an actuating mechanism of the present invention might be used to advantage in place of any one of the three mechanisms shown and described in this patent for the funnel, the baille, and the blowhead portions of this machine. It is further noted that the above applications for an actuating mechanism of the present invention are mentioned for purposes of illustration only, and as will be apparent from the description to follow, the funnel shown in the drawings is chosen for purposes of illustration only. Any mold associated portion or element which must be registered with a top opening in a mold of a glassware forming machine can be moved by an actuating mechanism of the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a preferred form of actuating mechanism of the present invention as comprising a housing `10 which is attached to the frame of the machine (as shown) and a movable part which includes an elongated member, or shaft 12, to which a funnel 14 is attached in a conventional fashion as by the funnel mounting bracket 16. The funnel 14 is shown in two positions, the broken line position showing the funnel in registered relation with a blank or parison mold 18 of the double gob type, and the solid lines showing the `funnel 14 in a stowed or remote position. The funnel actuating mechanism of the present invention is operable to move the funnel 14 between these two positions through a third position shown in FIG. 2. In the third position, the funnel is rotated about the axis of the shaft 12 from the solid line position of FIGS. 1 and 2 to a position spaced above the mold and shown by the solid lines in FIG, 2. In moving from the stowed position, the funnel is moved rst to the said third position, horizontally, and then downwardly onto the mold. In moving from the mold, the funnel is moved vertically upwardly to the third or intermediate position and then through a horizontal arc to the stowed position.

Although the funnel shown is intended for use in a double gob glassware forming machine, it will be apparent that other types of glassware forming machines can be equipped with actuating mechanisms of the present invention, and as mentioned above, it will also be apparent that the actuating mechanism to be described is equally suitable for use with other mold associated machine elements which are to be registered with a blank or blow mold.

Turning now to the actuating mechanism in greater detail, FIG. l shows said mechanism as comprising a vertically reciprocable piston element 20 which is movable downwardly in response to the introduction of fluid under pressure through a port 22 defined in the housing 10. Return movement of the piston element 20 is achieved by a return spring 24 which acts between the lower surface of the piston element 20 and the lower interior portion of the housing 10.

The elongated member or shaft 12 extends through an upper end inverted cup shaped part 13 of the housing 10, but is not rigidly connected to the piston element 20 as in conventional fluid motors. The elongated member 12 is instead slidably and rotatably received in the piston element 20 as shown in FIG. 1. More particularly,

the shaft 12 is rotatably supported in an upper extension 21 of the piston element 20 by a bushing 26, and the lower end of the shaft 12 is rotatably supported adjacent the lower end of the housing in a ball bearing assembly 28. The bearing assembly 28 comprises a pair of conventional ball bearing units and it will be noted that the outer race of each unit is slidably received in an upstanding sleeve 11 defined for this purpose inside the lower end portion of the housing 10. As so constructed, the shaft 12 will be seen to be rotatably and slidably supported in the housing. A shaft return spring 30 acts between the lower end of the bearing assembly 28 so as to urge the shaft 12 upwardly toward the position shown.

The shaft 12 is connected to the piston element 20 through a cam following roller 32 which projects radially outwardly from the shaft generally intermediate the bearings 26 and 28 just described. The cam follower 32 is received in a helically shaped cam slot 34 defined in the piston element. As so constructed, downward movement of the piston element from the position shown in FIG. 1 causes horizontal rotational movement of the shaft 12, and hence of the funnel 14, about the axis of the shaft in the direction of the arrows 36, 36. While the shaft return spring 30 might be strong enough to prevent axial downward movement of the shaft 12 during this initial movement of the piston 20 and funnel 14, a stop screw 35 is preferably provided on the housing for this purpose to engage a radially projecting arm 37 on the projecting upper end portion of the shaft.

After a predetermined angular travel of the shaft 12, corresponding to the displacement of the funnel 14 between the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, and at approximately the point where the cam follower 32 reaches the upper end of the cam slot 34 in the piston element 20, a central annular projection 38 on the piston 20 engages a radially extending flange 39 on the shaft 12 so that further downward movement of the piston will cause axial movement of the shaft 12, overcoming the force of the shaft return spring 30. From FIG. 3 it will be apparent that the arm 37 will have moved clear of the stop screw 35 to allow this axial movement of the shaft 12.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that downward movement of the piston element 20 in the axial direction causes a preliminary rotational movement of the shaft 12 so that the funnel 14 is moved in a horizontal plane while continued downward movement of the piston achieves a downward movement of the shaft 12 and, hence of the funnel 14 from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 to that shown in broken lines in that figure.

While any convenient means might be employed for restricting the piston 20 to axial movement only with respect to the housing 10, preferably, and as shown, said means comprises a second roller 40 which is mounted on the side wall of the housing and extends inwardly where it is received in a longitudinally extending slot 42 defined in the piston 20. The slot 42 is located diametrically opposite the bottom end of the helically shaped cam slot 34 discussed above.

The operation of the above-described actuating mechanism has been discussed in the description of its various parts. It should be noted, however, that the funnel 14, or other mold associated portion which is to be selectively registered with a mold opening with a mechanism of the present invention, is preferably returned to its original, or stowed position, along the same path described above, namely, through distinct vertical and horizontal steps. More particularly, when the air pressure is shut off at the inlet port 22, the return springs 24 and 30 Will cause the shaft 12, and the funnel 14 connected thereto, to rinse vertically away from the mold to the intermediate or third position described. When the shaft 12 has reached this elevated position, the upper edge of the bearing 28 engages an inwardly protruding collar 44 defined on the sleeve 11of the housing 10, and further upward movement of the piston 20 resulting from return spring 24 will cause the shaft 12 to rotate by reason of the cam follower and slot arrangement described hereinabove. Thus, the funnel, or other such mold associated portion, will be returned to its stowed position by a reversal of the motion described hereinabove in connection with the registering of the funnel with the top opening in the blank mold 18. It should be noted that suitable vent openings 46, 46 are provided in the sleeve 11 of the housing 10 so as to vent the interior thereof during linear movement of the shaft 12.

The upper end portion 13 of the housing 10 is of inverted cup shape as mentioned above in order to receive the upper extension 21 of the piston element 20. Preferably, and as shown, these portions 13 and 21, of the fluid motor are somewhat longer axially than the stroke of the fluid motor so that fluid under pressure never reaches the space created therebetween during operation of the fluid motor. As a result of this design, the shaft 12 need not be embraced by seals in the piston element 20.

An exhaust port 48 is provided in the side wall of the housing 10, and as shown, suitable baffles are provided therein in order to prevent oil from being exhausted along with exhaust air during operation of the piston 20.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows in some detail the construction of the air inlet port 22. It will be seen that the inlet port, or passageway 22, branches out into 3 downwardly open passageways 50, 52 and 53 all of which are selectively communicable with the upper surface of the piston 20 as follows. During initial downward movement of the piston 20 air is metered through passageway 50 by a needle valve 51. A check valve 54 opens passageway 53 after some slight downward travel of the piston and after some further downward movement of the piston 20 a pin 55, mounted in the piston moves out of the passageway 52 so that additional air pressure and flow act on the piston 20 further speeding its downward travel. The abovementioned spring 24 cushions the piston at its lower limit of travel. During upward movement of the piston 20 air pressure closes the check valve 54 and the pin 55 decelerates the piston 20 by causing all exhaust air to be vented through passageway toward the end of the upward or return travel of the piston 20.

The invention claimed is:

1. A mechanism for achieving distinct rotational and linear motions in response to application of a fluid pressure, said mechanism comprising a fixed housing having a piston chamber, a piston slidably received in said housing chamber for lineal movement from and toward one end of said housing, a shaft slidably received in said piston and having one end extending outwardly through said one end of said housing, biasing means for urging said shaft toward said one end of said housing, said shaft having a shoulder for engagement by said piston after a predetermined initial portion of piston movement away from said one housing end to retract said extending shaft end in response to further piston movement in that direction, said piston defining a generally helically shaped cam slot in an inner cylindrical surface thereof, a cam follower extending radially outwardly from said shaft to ride in said cam slot for imparting rotational movement to said shaft in response to initial piston movement away from said one housing end.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 further characterized by biasing means for urging the piston toward said one housing end, said piston being adapted for movement by fluid pressure in the said direction away from said one housing end to overcome the force of said piston biasing means.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 further characterized by means for restricting said piston to lineal movement in said housing, said piston having an annular shape with a central bore for slidably and rotatably receiving said shaft.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 further characterized by a closed end of said housing opposite said one end thereof, bearing means adjacent said closed housing end for rotatably supporting said shaft, said bearing means being slidably supported in said housing to permit said shaft retracting movement.

3,153,986 1o/1964 Mitchell 92-33 3,165,982 1/1965 Taymr 92-33 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,930 11/ 1965 Switzerland.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner Stein 92 29 X I. C. COHEN, Assistant Examiner Nardone 92-33 Geyer 92 33 X 10 U-S- CL XR- Block 92--33 92-29, 129; 74-89, 99 

